Sailing in the South Pacific

The magic of the ocean has occupied my thoughts for as long as I can remember. I grew up close to the sea, and the sparkling blue horizon was a constant draw. Even when I could not actually see it, simply knowing it was close by was a huge comfort. For me, the sea represents an escape route. Freedom. A reason for living. It was always a question of when I would sail across an ocean, not if.

I met Rick in 2010 while travelling in Australia. We started sailing together then he sold his boat and we looked for a new one. We travelled far and wide – across Australia, Thailand and Indonesia – and finally found Calypso, a Union 36, in Mexico. For three years we sailed her up and down the Mexican coast, getting her ready for our first ocean crossing.

We got to know intimately during this time. We learned about every system, explored every corner, looked under every floorboard and exposed all her strengths and weaknesses. Only after pushing to her limits could I finally trust her to safely carry us across the South Pacific, from